A new campaign against Defra’s environmental budget cuts, which has meant a 7% cut to British Waterways funds in the last year with the loss of 180 jobs, has been announced.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:
“These redundancies show Defra’s budget cuts beginning to bite. Our canal networks will suffer as a result, together with a whole range of environmental and rural services.
“These cuts put our canals and waterways under threat, impacting on a wide range of users including boat owners, holidaymakers, anglers and ramblers. Canals are also important community assets and provide both recreation and a natural environment in many urban areas.”
Earlier this month, Chris Huhne unveiled that Defra had spent over £170m on management consultants since 2002-3.
The figures emerged at the same time that Defra cut a similar amount (£200 million) from its budget for this year.
Sign the ‘Canal Cuts Are Nuts’ petition at http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/waterways
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